114. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence McCone to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Proposed Reorganization of the United States Intelligence Board
In recent consultation with Secretary McNamara regarding measures which should be taken in the intelligence community to achieve your goal of good management and economical administration in government,2 we have concluded that the management of the foreign intelligence activities of the Department of Defense would be very greatly simplified if you would approve a reorganization of the United States Intelligence Board.
The Board, essentially in its present role of advising and assisting you as its Chairman in coordinating and guiding the total intelligence effort, was established in 1958 with the approval of the President under directives of the National Security Council. As approved by the President, the composition of the Intelligence Board currently consists of the Director of Central Intelligence as Chairman; the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence representing the Central Intelligence Agency; the intelligence chiefs of the Department of State, Defense Intelligence Agency, Army, Navy, Air Force and National Security Agency; together with representatives of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Since the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) was created in 1961 to coordinate and supervise all intelligence functions in the Department of Defense (except those under the National Security Agency), it has been [Page 223] contemplated that the intelligence chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force would be removed from membership on the U.S. Intelligence Board at such time as the Director, DIA, has sufficient authority and resources to represent all the military services. Secretary McNamara and I believe that this change in membership on the Intelligence Board is now warranted in the interest of better management and more effective administration.
To put this reorganization into effect, I recommend that you approve the following membership on the United States Intelligence Board to become effective 1 January 1964:
- Director of Central Intelligence, Chairman
- Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
- Director of Intelligence and Research, Department of State
- Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
- Director, National Security Agency
- A representative of the Atomic Energy Commission
- A representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Subject to your approval of this recommendation, I will institute action to effect such changes in existing directives as are necessary to implement this reorganization.